Enduring a head injury under any circumstances is terrifying. Perhaps you personally experienced a blow to the head, hit your head in a fall, or have been shaken up by a car accident. Maybe a loved one has suffered a head injury. Whatever situation you may find yourself in, one of the most beneficial things you can do is know the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.

The Development of a Head Injury

After a head injury, there is a lot going on. After a car crash, for example, there can be utter chaos. And, depending on the injuries of everyone involved, a traumatic brain injury could go overlooked, especially if a victim unwisely rejects a thorough examination or refuses to take a trip to the emergency room because they “feel fine.”

Here is a critical fact: A traumatic brain injury may not reveal itself immediately after the impact occurs. In some circumstances, a head injury may not even be considered as a potential injury – a hard fall on the stairs, for instance, where someone hits their back but does not hit their head. But their head may have been jarred violently in the fall, a fact that may not come to light until days later when a person’s normal behavior is altered.

Ultimately, a head injury needs to be properly diagnosed and treated in order for a person to heal properly. And even though a TBI may be difficult to diagnose immediately, or until symptoms reveal themselves, any person involved in an accident or collision should be evaluated for a concussion or other head injury.

A TBI Recognition Checklist

While every sufferer of a TBI will not exhibit identical symptoms, there are some blanket symptoms that are often observed by loved ones and medical professionals that can indicate something serious is happening with the brain. You may even recognize these symptoms within yourself.

Behavioral changes: If you notice any of the following symptoms that affect intellect and communication, it’s time to seek medical care:

• Accidentally repeating the same task
• Difficulty making simple decisions
• Trouble communicating simple thoughts, feelings, and wants
• Repeating themselves unintentionally

Psychological changes: If you have already sought medical care, your neurologist will not doubt be on the lookout for the following more complex symptoms, and request that you or a loved one be aware of these changes as well:

• Challenged by once simple tasks
• Unexplained mood swings
• Trouble concentrating, even on small or simple tasks
• Feelings of panic, terror, or unending anxiety

Personality changes: It is not uncommon for people with a brain injury to exhibit mood or personality shifts such as:

• Restlessness
• Unexplained outbursts
• A quick temper
• Unusual or risky behavior

Recording symptoms for several days after a head injury can help identify symptoms that are out of the ordinary, repetitive, or normal. The details you gather are not only for your assessment though. It is important to be under the care of a medical professional so that your brain injury can be accurately identified and treated. Overtime, with proper care and rest, brain injuries can heal.

David Christensen is a brain injury expert who represents victims that have been seriously injured or sustained traumatic brain injuries in car accidents. Christensen Law is personal injury law firm located in Southfield, Michigan.